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Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research

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A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Nano- and Micro-Technologies in Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 29138

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pik Kwan Peggy LO

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Interests: DNA nanotechnology; chemical biology; biosensor; cancer therapy; nanomedicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biosensors are devices that detect specific targets using recognition receptors and then convert their biomolecular interaction into detectable and measurable signals. Inspired by the recent advancements and breakthroughs in synthetic chemistry, the recognition elements of receptors, such as antibodies, enzymes, nucleic acids, peptides, and carbohydrate-binding proteins, can be simply synthesized and used to transform molecular binding events into physical signals such as electronic, optical, magnetic, and mass changes. Currently, biosensors are fabricated from a large variety of nanomaterials, including nanoparticles, quantum dots, polymers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nucleic acids, peptides, etc., for qualitative and quantitative analyses of biomolecules, proteins, DNAs/RNAs, biomarkers, metal ions, microorganism, toxin pollutants, etc.

In this regard, we are delighted to present this Special Issue entitled "Nanometre-scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research”. We are calling for short communications, research articles, and review articles to be included this issue for the purpose of promoting the research processes in this field.

Dr. Pik Kwan Peggy LO
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

nanomaterials
nanotechnology
biosensing
diagnosis
nanomedicine
biomedical
in vitro and in vivo applications
fabrication
chemical synthesis
self-assembly

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 171 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Nanometre-Scale Biosensors Revolutionizing Applications in Biomedical and Environmental Research

by Pik Kwan Lo

Biosensors 2023, 13(11), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13110969 - 06 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1083

Abstract

Driven by the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and materials science, the field of biosensors has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

Research

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15 pages, 5147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photoelectrochemical Determination of Cardiac Troponin I as a Biomarker of Myocardial Infarction Using a Bi₂S₃ Film Electrodeposited on a BiVO₄-Coated Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Electrode

by Thatyara Oliveira Monteiro, Antônio Gomes dos Santos Neto, Alan Silva de Menezes, Flávio Santos Damos, Rita de Cássia Silva Luz and Orlando Fatibello-Filho

Biosensors 2023, 13(3), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13030379 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1628

Abstract

A sensitive and selective label-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was designed for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The platform was based on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass photoelectrode modified with bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) and sensitized by an electrodeposited bismuth sulfide (Bi₂S₃) film. The PEC response of the Bi₂S₃/BiVO₄/FTO platform for the ascorbic acid (AA) donor molecule was approximately 1.6-fold higher than the response observed in the absence of Bi₂S₃. The cTnI antibodies (anti-cTnI) were immobilized on the Bi₂S₃/BiVO₄/FTO platform surface to produce the anti-cTnI/Bi₂S₃/BiVO₄/FTO immunosensor, which was incubated in cTnI solution to inhibit the AA photocurrent. The photocurrent obtained by the proposed immunosensor presented a linear relationship with the logarithm of the cTnI concentration, ranging from 1 pg mL⁻¹ to 1000 ng mL⁻¹. The immunosensor was successfully employed in artificial blood plasma samples for the detection of cTnI, with recovery values ranging from 98.0% to 98.5%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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10 pages, 2738 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

A Novel Minidumbbell DNA-Based Sensor for Silver Ion Detection

by Jiacheng Zhang, Yuan Liu, Zhenzhen Yan, Yue Wang and Pei Guo

Biosensors 2023, 13(3), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13030358 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1428

Abstract

Silver ion (Ag⁺) is one of the most common heavy metal ions that cause environmental pollution and affect human health, and therefore, its detection is of great importance in the field of analytical chemistry. Here, we report an 8-nucleotide (nt) minidumbbell DNA-based sensor (M-DNA) for Ag⁺ detection. The minidumbbell contained a unique reverse wobble C·C mispair in the minor groove, which served as the binding site for Ag⁺. The M-DNA sensor could achieve a detection limit of 2.1 nM and sense Ag⁺ in real environmental samples with high accuracy. More importantly, the M-DNA sensor exhibited advantages of fast kinetics and easy operation owing to the usage of an ultrashort oligonucleotide. The minidumbbell represents a new and minimal non-B DNA structural motif for Ag⁺ sensing, allowing for the further development of on-site environmental Ag⁺ detection devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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8 pages, 1439 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Development of Fluorescent Turn-On Probes for CAG-RNA Repeats

by Matthew Ho Yan Lau, Chun-Ho Wong, Ho Yin Edwin Chan and Ho Yu Au-Yeung

Biosensors 2022, 12(12), 1080; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121080 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1501

Abstract

Fluorescent sensing of nucleic acids is a highly sensitive and efficient bioanalytical method for their study in cellular processes, detection and diagnosis in related diseases. However, the design of small molecule fluorescent probes for the selective binding and detection of RNA of a specific sequence is very challenging because of their diverse, dynamic, and flexible structures. By modifying a bis(amidinium)-based small molecular binder that is known to selectively target RNA with CAG repeats using an environment-sensitive fluorophore, a turn-on fluorescent probe featuring aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is successfully developed in this proof-of-concept study. The probe (DB-TPE) exhibits a strong, 19-fold fluorescence enhancement upon binding to a short CAG RNA, and the binding and fluorescence response was found to be specific to the overall RNA secondary structure with A·A mismatches. These promising analytical performances suggest that the probe could be applied in pathological studies, disease progression monitoring, as well as diagnosis of related neurodegenerative diseases due to expanded CAG RNA repeats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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14 pages, 4210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Label-Free Gold Nanoparticles-Based Optical Aptasensor for the Detection of Retinol Binding Protein 4

by Koena L. Moabelo, Teresa M. Lerga, Miriam Jauset-Rubio, Nicole R. S. Sibuyi, Ciara K. O’Sullivan, Mervin Meyer and Abram M. Madiehe

Biosensors 2022, 12(12), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121061 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1820

Abstract

Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been implicated in insulin resistance in rodents and humans with obesity and T2DM, making it a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of T2DM. However, diagnostic tools for low-level detection of RBP4 are still lagging behind. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of T2DM diagnostics that are rapid, cost-effective and that can be used at the point-of-care (POC). Recently, nano-enabled biosensors integrating highly selective optical detection techniques and specificity of aptamers have been widely developed for the rapid detection of various targets. This study reports on the development of a rapid gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based aptasensor for the detection of RBP4. The retinol-binding protein aptamer (RBP-A) is adsorbed on the surface of the AuNPs through van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions, stabilizing the AuNPs against sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced aggregation. Upon the addition of RBP4, the RBP-A binds to RBP4 and detaches from the surface of the AuNPs, leaving the AuNPs unprotected. Addition of NaCl causes aggregation of AuNPs, leading to a visible colour change of the AuNPs solution from ruby red to purple/blue. The test result was available within 5 min and the assay had a limit of detection of 90.76 ± 2.81 nM. This study demonstrates the successful development of a simple yet effective, specific, and colorimetric rapid assay for RBP4 detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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13 pages, 3175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Microfluidic Platform Revealing Interactions between Leukocytes and Cancer Cells on Topographic Micropatterns

by Xin Cui, Lelin Liu, Jiyu Li, Yi Liu, Ya Liu, Dinglong Hu, Ruolin Zhang, Siping Huang, Zhongning Jiang, Yuchao Wang, Yun Qu, Stella W. Pang and Raymond H. W. Lam

Biosensors 2022, 12(11), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12110963 - 02 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1957

Abstract

Immunoassay for detailed analysis of immune−cancer intercellular interactions can achieve more promising diagnosis and treatment strategies for cancers including nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). In this study, we report a microfluidic live−cell immunoassay integrated with a microtopographic environment to meet the rising demand for monitoring intercellular interactions in different tumor microenvironments. The developed assay allows: (1) coculture of immune cells and cancer cells on tunable (flat or micrograting) substrates, (2) simultaneous detection of different cytokines in a wide working range of 5–5000 pg/mL, and (3) investigation of migration behaviors of mono- and co-cultured cells on flat/grating platforms for revealing the topography-induced intercellular and cytokine responses. Cytokine monitoring was achieved on-chip by implementing a sensitive and selective microbead-based sandwich assay with an antibody on microbeads, target cytokines, and the matching fluorescent-conjugated detection antibody in an array of active peristaltic mixer-assisted cytokine detection microchambers. Moreover, this immunoassay requires a low sample volume down to 0.5 μL and short assay time (30 min) for on-chip cytokine quantifications. We validated the biocompatibility of the co-culture strategy between immune cells and NPC cells and compared the different immunological states of undifferentiated THP-1 monocytic cells or PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages co-culturing with NP460 and NPC43 on topographical and planar substrates, respectively. Hence, the integrated microfluidic platform provides an efficient, broad-range and precise on-chip cytokine detection approach, eliminates the manual sampling procedures and allows on-chip continuous cytokine monitoring without perturbing intercellular microenvironments on different topographical ECM substrates, which has the potential of providing clinical significance in early immune diagnosis, personalized immunotherapy, and precision medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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Review

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26 pages, 4410 KiB

Open AccessReview

Semiconducting Polymer Dots for Point-of-Care Biosensing and In Vivo Bioimaging: A Concise Review

by Sile Deng, Lingfeng Li, Jiaxi Zhang, Yongjun Wang, Zhongchao Huang and Haobin Chen

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010137 - 14 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2834

Abstract

In recent years, semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) have attracted much attention due to their excellent photophysical properties and applicability, such as large absorption cross section, high brightness, tunable fluorescence emission, excellent photostability, good biocompatibility, facile modification and regulation. Therefore, Pdots have been widely used in various types of sensing and imaging in biological medicine. More importantly, the recent development of Pdots for point-of-care biosensing and in vivo imaging has emerged as a promising class of optical diagnostic technologies for clinical applications. In this review, we briefly outline strategies for the preparation and modification of Pdots and summarize the recent progress in the development of Pdots-based optical probes for analytical detection and biomedical imaging. Finally, challenges and future developments of Pdots for biomedical applications are given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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24 pages, 6270 KiB

Open AccessReview

Metal-Organic Frameworks-Based Optical Nanosensors for Analytical and Bioanalytical Applications

by Cong Wen, Rongsheng Li, Xiaoxia Chang and Na Li

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010128 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2675

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based optical nanoprobes for luminescence and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications have been receiving tremendous attention. Every element in the MOF structure, including the metal nodes, the organic linkers, and the guest molecules, can be used as a source to build single/multi-emission signals for the intended analytical purposes. For SERS applications, the MOF can not only be used directly as a SERS substrate, but can also improve the stability and reproducibility of the metal-based substrates. Additionally, the porosity and large specific surface area give MOF a sieving effect and target molecule enrichment ability, both of which are helpful for improving detection selectivity and sensitivity. This mini-review summarizes the advances of MOF-based optical detection methods, including luminescence and SERS, and also provides perspectives on future efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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Graphical abstract

33 pages, 11521 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Trends in Metal Nanoparticles Decorated 2D Materials for Electrochemical Biomarker Detection

by Aneesh Koyappayil, Ajay Kumar Yagati and Min-Ho Lee

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010091 - 05 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3421

Abstract

Technological advancements in the healthcare sector have pushed for improved sensors and devices for disease diagnosis and treatment. Recently, with the discovery of numerous biomarkers for various specific physiological conditions, early disease screening has become a possibility. Biomarkers are the body’s early warning systems, which are indicators of a biological state that provides a standardized and precise way of evaluating the progression of disease or infection. Owing to the extremely low concentrations of various biomarkers in bodily fluids, signal amplification strategies have become crucial for the detection of biomarkers. Metal nanoparticles are commonly applied on 2D platforms to anchor antibodies and enhance the signals for electrochemical biomarker detection. In this context, this review will discuss the recent trends and advances in metal nanoparticle decorated 2D materials for electrochemical biomarker detection. The prospects, advantages, and limitations of this strategy also will be discussed in the concluding section of this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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27 pages, 4276 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review on Microfluidics-Based Impedance Biosensors

by Yu-Shih Chen, Chun-Hao Huang, Ping-Ching Pai, Jungmok Seo and Kin Fong Lei

Biosensors 2023, 13(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13010083 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5632

Abstract

Electrical impedance biosensors are powerful and continuously being developed for various biological sensing applications. In this line, the sensitivity of impedance biosensors embedded with microfluidic technologies, such as sheath flow focusing, dielectrophoretic focusing, and interdigitated electrode arrays, can still be greatly improved. In particular, reagent consumption reduction and analysis time-shortening features can highly increase the analytical capabilities of such biosensors. Moreover, the reliability and efficiency of analyses are benefited by microfluidics-enabled automation. Through the use of mature microfluidic technology, complicated biological processes can be shrunk and integrated into a single microfluidic system (e.g., lab-on-a-chip or micro-total analysis systems). By incorporating electrical impedance biosensors, hand-held and bench-top microfluidic systems can be easily developed and operated by personnel without professional training. Furthermore, the impedance spectrum provides broad information regarding cell size, membrane capacitance, cytoplasmic conductivity, and cytoplasmic permittivity without the need for fluorescent labeling, magnetic modifications, or other cellular treatments. In this review article, a comprehensive summary of microfluidics-based impedance biosensors is presented. The structure of this article is based on the different substrate material categorizations. Moreover, the development trend of microfluidics-based impedance biosensors is discussed, along with difficulties and challenges that may be encountered in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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24 pages, 11663 KiB

Open AccessReview

Capture-SELEX: Selection Strategy, Aptamer Identification, and Biosensing Application

by Sin Yu Lam, Hill Lam Lau and Chun Kit Kwok

Biosensors 2022, 12(12), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121142 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4273

Abstract

Small-molecule contaminants, such as antibiotics, pesticides, and plasticizers, have emerged as one of the substances most detrimental to human health and the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to develop low-cost, user-friendly, and portable biosensors capable of rapidly detecting these contaminants. Antibodies have traditionally been used as biorecognition elements. However, aptamers have recently been applied as biorecognition elements in aptamer-based biosensors, also known as aptasensors. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is an in vitro technique used to generate aptamers that bind their targets with high affinity and specificity. Over the past decade, a modified SELEX method known as Capture-SELEX has been widely used to generate DNA or RNA aptamers that bind small molecules. In this review, we summarize the recent strategies used for Capture-SELEX, describe the methods commonly used for detecting and characterizing small-molecule–aptamer interactions, and discuss the development of aptamer-based biosensors for various applications. We also discuss the challenges of the Capture-SELEX platform and biosensor development and the possibilities for their future application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanometre-Scale Biosensors for Applications in Medicine/Environment/Food/Biomedical Research)

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